What To Do For Ear Ringing After Shooting A Gun
Ear ringing after shooting guns is common, and can be referred to as “acute tinnitus”. If early action is taken, there is a good chance that this kind of tinnitus will resolve. Here, I cover these important topics related to ear ringing after shooting:
- What causes tinnitus from loud noise?
- Can ear ringing after gunfire be temporary?
- How to cure ringing ears after shooting a gun
Intro To Ear Ringing After Shooting A Gun
Loud noises such as gunfire can cause acute tinnitus. The amount of time this lasts depends on the extent of the damage, any previous damage, and what you do in the hours after exposure. Ear ringing from loud noise, often referred to as noise-induced tinnitus, is primarily caused by damage to the hair cells in the cochlea (the snail-shaped organ of the inner ear).
The inner ear hearing organ has many cells with microscopic hairs on them that detect the vibration of sound in the fluids of the inner ear. These cells are called “hair cells” and their function is to convert vibrations of sound into electrical signals, which are then carried by the hearing (auditory) nerve to the brain, allowing us to perceive and understand sounds.
When exposed to loud noises, such as gunfire or concerts, these delicate hair cells can become overstimulated and damaged. This damage disrupts the normal transmission of sound signals to the brain, leading to the perception of the ear ringing or hissing.
The pitch of the sound you hear depends on what areas are damaged in the inner ear. High pitch hearing loss causes a high pitched ringing or hissing. Lower pitch hearing loss causes a humming or buzzing sound.
The loud noise also triggers a cascade of events, including the release of inflammatory molecules (such as oxygen free radicals) which can harm inner ear structures. Fortunately, the damage to the inner ear can reverse itself in certain cases.
Over time, repeated exposure to loud noises without adequate hearing protection can result in cumulative damage to the hair cells, potentially causing persistent and irreversible tinnitus and hyperacusis (abnormal sensitivity to sound).
What is “hidden hearing loss”?
“Hidden hearing loss” refers to damage in the auditory system that doesn’t appear on standard hearing tests, making it difficult to detect. This condition is often linked to “synaptopathy”, a type of damage affecting the connections (synapses) between inner ear hair cells and the auditory nerve. These synapses play a critical role in transmitting sound signals to the brain, and when they are damaged, it can disrupt auditory processing. Hidden hearing loss often results from exposure to loud noises, like gunfire, which can cause subtle yet permanent damage even when hearing thresholds temporarily normalize.
While temporary hearing loss after loud noise exposure may seem to resolve within hours or days, the underlying damage to the synapses can persist. This explains how someone can pass a hearing test yet still experience symptoms like difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments or loud, persistent tinnitus. Hidden hearing loss highlights the importance of proactive hearing protection, as even damage that doesn’t affect hearing test results can still lead to long-term challenges and distress.
What causes left ear ringing after shooting?
In the context of long guns, left ear ringing after shooting usually means that you are right-handed and your right ear is partly protected from noise damage by the “head shadow” effect. The ear that is further away from the muzzle will have less hearing loss as the head protects the opposite ear from some exposure to the sound.
Ringing in the right ear may indicate that you are left-handed and shot with your right ear closer to the muzzle and your left ear would be protected by the shadow effect.
The “head shadow effect” provides up to a 30 decibel reduction in the sounds reaching the other ear. Extensive research indicates that hunters, especially those exposed to firearms regularly, tend to have greater hearing loss than the average population, and the ear closer to the muzzle is the most affected.
Can ear ringing after shooting a gun be temporary?
Yes, tinnitus after noise damage from gunfire can be temporary in some cases. In these instances, the ringing or buzzing sensation in the ears may be a short-term response to the intense sound exposure and can subside in a matter of hours to days.
However, cumulative damage or certain types of sound can lead to permanent damage to the cells of the inner ear and lead to permanent hearing loss and longer-lasting tinnitus.
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How long does ear ringing from shooting guns last?
In the context of shooting guns, tinnitus can last anywhere from hours to days. The initial damage to the inner ear is the event that triggers tinnitus in the short term. However, what causes tinnitus to last is when the brain starts to rewire and pay more attention to the tinnitus sound.
For instance, gun noise in a combat situation can be highly stressful. In these situations, the brain starts to make network associations between the stress of combat and the physical damage to the ear. In these situations, tinnitus frequently becomes long-lasting.
Other factors that can make tinnitus last include stress, diet, or poor sleep. This happens because there is a process in the brain related to migraine that can start which increases the brain’s attention to the tinnitus signal. In addition, migraine can cause a change in the blood flow to the inner ear resulting in some temporary or permanent damage to the inner ear. When this happens, the tinnitus that had been quiet can suddenly become loud again. Fortunately, this loud tinnitus is highly treatable with the interventions we use at NeuroMed.
Can you treat tinnitus from loud noise?
There are some emerging treatments for tinnitus from loud noise that are promising. However, steroids are the only currently approved medication that is sometimes used for loud noise ear damage. Steroids like dexamethasone or prednisone are commonly used for their anti-inflammatory properties, reducing the production of inflammatory molecules. Steroids can be either given as a shot, a pill, or an injection into the affected ear.
Other treatments include the use of antioxidant compounds and/or oxygen radical scavengers. Recall that one of the after-effects of noise-induced ear damage is oxygen radical production and inflammation. There are currently no approved compounds for this, but several promising candidates are in clinical trials.
How to Cure Ringing Ears After Shooting A Gun
While there may be no cure for ear ringing after shooting guns, there are some practical tips you can do at home that may help. These include measures like using sound therapy, taking antioxidants, and using stress reduction techniques.
Early Action Is Critical
Before diving into specific tips, it’s critical to understand that timing is everything when it comes to treating tinnitus after shooting a gun. The inner ear is highly vulnerable to noise trauma, and once damage sets in, it can quickly become permanent and irreversible.
However, in the first few hours to days, key processes—including inflammation, free radical damage, and neurotransmitter imbalances—are all still in motion. This means there’s a critical window where early intervention can reduce damage, promote recovery, and even prevent long-term tinnitus.
Delaying treatment allows damage to progress. Acting immediately—within hours of injury—can make the difference between temporary ear ringing that fades and chronic tinnitus that lasts for years. There is nothing more important than taking action as soon as possible to give yourself the best chance of recovery.
Acute Ear Ringing Protocol
Here's some tips on how to cure ringing ears after shooting a gun:
| Intervention | Description |
|---|---|
| White Noise | Ear ringing after shooting can be helped by listening to white noise in the background. This won’t make the tinnitus go away, but it will help distract your brain from the tinnitus sound. This may help prevent your brain from creating nerve connections (neural networks) that can make the tinnitus last longer. |
| Drink Water | Staying hydrated after noise-induced hearing loss helps maintain the fluid balance in the brain, supporting its optimal function and reducing the likelihood of the activation of the migraine phenomenon which makes tinnitus loud. |
| Take Antioxidants | Vitamins and supplements that reduce oxygen radical damage may help reduce ear ringing after shooting. There are no good clinical trials yet for this, but there has been some evidence showing that vitamin D, coenzyme q10, vitamin E, and n-acetyl-choline (NAC) show promise. |
| Try to Relax | You want to try to de-stress as much as you can. When people stress over their tinnitus (catastrophize), it actually makes things worse. Instead, do some relaxing activities and try to not focus on the ear ringing. In most cases, the ringing will settle with time. |
| Get Hearing Protection | Now, while you are motivated, invest in some good hearing protection gear. It's best to wear a foam ear plug that is placed deep in the ear canal combined with over the ear muffs to maximally reduce the impact of the gun noise on your hearing and to protect you from acute tinnitus. |
One thing that's important to emphasize again is that people who shoot guns have a higher degree of “hidden hearing loss”. That is, even if they score normal on a hearing test, specialized measurements can detect damage to the hearing nerve. Therefore, always use double hearing protection when shooting guns.
What is double hearing protection?
Double hearing protection, also known as “dual protection,” involves simultaneously using two forms of hearing protection to reduce noise exposure. Typically this would be in-the-canal foam ear plugs combined with over-the-ear sound muffs. This is the best option to try to prevent ear ringing from shooting.
For people with existing tinnitus, protecting their ears is crucial, especially when exposed to loud noises such as shooting guns, as it can exacerbate their symptoms. That's why double hearing protection, combining earplugs and earmuffs, is often recommended to minimize the risk of further damage and manage tinnitus effectively.
If Ringing Persists Beyond 2 Weeks, Call Us Now!
If you experience ear ringing after shooting, it’s important to start the recommended measures outlined above right away. However, if your symptoms persist beyond two weeks, it’s time to contact us for professional evaluation and treatment.
Recent advancements in tinnitus care show that early intervention with integrative treatments, including prescription medications, can stop the progression of acute tinnitus and even reverse it when addressed promptly. Acting quickly improves the chances of recovery and helps prevent tinnitus from becoming a long-term issue.
Conclusion: Ear Ringing After Shooting Is Serious, But Treatable
Experiencing ear ringing after shooting a gun underscores the importance of prioritizing ear protection during firearm use. The potential damage to delicate structures within the ear, highlighted by the risk of tinnitus, emphasizes the need for responsible practices. If you do get ear ringing after shooting, the proactive steps outlined above should start as soon as possible.
This episode should be a wake up call for you. By embracing double hearing protection (combining foam earplugs with over-the-ear muffs), you can safeguard your hearing in the future and help protect against tinnitus effectively, ensuring a safer shooting experience and preserving your long-term hearing health.
For those who already have bothersome tinnitus, it's advisable to consider avoiding gun shooting altogether. Ear ringing after shooting can occur even with double protection. The loud noise can serve as a trigger to make tinnitus worse. Prioritizing auditory health by opting for quieter activities is a proactive decision that will help you better manage your tinnitus.
If your ear ringing fails to resolve after 2 weeks, please call us for a FREE consultation, we will explain how prompt treatment with our medical protocol may prevent a life-long problem with ear ringing.
